The Federal Government has urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to admit as evidence statements made by six men standing trial over their alleged involvement in a plot to overthrow the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
The request was made by the prosecution during the ongoing trial within trial, a legal procedure aimed at determining whether the statements obtained from the accused persons were made voluntarily.
The prosecution’s fourth witness, identified only as “DDD,” told the court that the defendants made their statements willingly and were not subjected to torture, intimidation, or harassment during interrogation.
Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the witness dismissed allegations by the defendants that they were tortured into making confessional statements. He noted that five of the six defendants, excluding the first defendant, admitted knowledge of the alleged plot.
Responding to claims that the defendants’ feet were chained during questioning, the witness said, “It is not true. The feet of the defendants were not chained. They walked into the interview room by themselves.”
He added that if the defendants had indeed been chained, the sound of the restraints would have been evident in the video recordings played before the court.
Addressing concerns over the absence of legal representation during interrogation, the witness stated that none of the defendants requested the presence of lawyers, family members, officials of the Legal Aid Council, or a Justice of the Peace.
The witness subsequently urged the court to admit both the written statements and audiovisual recordings of the interrogation sessions as evidence in the trial.
Under cross examination by defence counsel, the witness acknowledged that the statements were not made in the presence of lawyers, relatives, Legal Aid officials, or a Justice of the Peace. However, he maintained that the defendants were neither coerced nor tortured.
Following the testimony, the prosecution announced the closure of its case in the trial within trial after presenting four witnesses.
Meanwhile, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik directed the Department of State Services to investigate allegations that evidence tendered in court had been leaked and circulated on social media.
The judge further ordered that if any online publication violates the court’s witness protection directive, the DSS should identify and prosecute those responsible.
Justice Abdulmalik ruled that the investigation should proceed while the main trial continues, noting that all six defendants, through their lawyers, denied any involvement in the alleged leak.
Earlier during proceedings, Oyedepo informed the court that videos submitted as evidence by the prosecution had appeared on social media through a personality known as VeryDarkMan.
He also told the court that the individual was present in the courtroom and requested an investigation into how the sensitive materials were leaked.
When asked to respond, all six defence lawyers denied any involvement. Some insisted that the prosecution should file a formal application supported by affidavit to allow proper legal response.
The court also heard bail applications filed by the defendants. While defence counsel urged the court to grant bail on liberal terms, the prosecution opposed the applications and asked the court to dismiss them.
Justice Abdulmalik adjourned proceedings to June 25 and June 30 for the first, second, and third defendants to present their defence in the trial within trial.
The fourth, fifth, and sixth defendants are scheduled to present their defence on July 1 and July 2.
Ruling on the bail applications has been fixed for July 20.
